Box Score

CHICAGO, Ill. – Junior pitcher Blake English took a perfect game into the sixth inning and a no-hitter into the seventh before finishing with a one-hit shutout to lead the University of Texas-Pan American Broncs baseball team past the Chicago State University Cougars 1-0 in game two of a doubleheader on Saturday at Cougar Stadium.
 
The Broncs (19-26, 9-9 WAC) took two out of three from the Cougars (14-27, 3-12 WAC) to clinch their fourth-straight Western Athletic Conference series victory.
 
It was the 34^th one-hitter in program history and the Broncs' first one-hitter since Feb. 19, 2003, when Aaron Guerra one-hit Incarnate Word at Edinburg Baseball Stadium. It was the Broncs' first road one-hitter since Feb. 22, 2000, when Mike Cox one-hit Lamar.
 
English (4-3) retired the first 16 batters he faced. With one out in the sixth, however, Rob Swenson, reached on a throwing error by junior shortstop Jesus Garcia. English got a fielder's choice and a strikeout to end the inning.
 
In the seventh, English issued a leadoff walk to Mattingly Romanin. One out later, Jordan Stroschein hit the ball in front of the plate. It took a high hop over English's head. Sophomore PSJA alum and second baseman Bryan Ramirez charged and fired to first, but Stroschein narrowly beat the throw. English settled down to record a fly out and a strike out to escape the threat.
 
The only other base runner against English came with one out in the eighth when Swenson was hit by a pitch. English recorded 12 groundouts, 10 fly outs, and five strikeouts (one looking) while throwing 65 of his 99 pitches for strikes (65.7 percent).
 
English finished with his second complete game and shutout of the season and in his last three starts. During that time, English has allowed just one earned run in 24 innings for a 0.37 ERA.
 
The Broncs gave English all the support he needed in the seventh, when Garcia hit a one-out triple off of Eric Hall (3-3) and junior Evan Mason hit an RBI-single.
 
The Broncs finish up this five-game road trip with their final non-conference game of the regular season when they visit Incarnate Word for the first time in program history on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

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